Transactional charge for mobile ticketing may get exempted

Mumbai : To promote mobile ticketing amongst the suburban commuters, the Western Railway (WR) has asked the Railway Board to exempt mobile ticketing users Rs 10 which is levied as transactional charge.

General Manager of WR, GC Agarwal said, “The mobile ticketing has not picked up as it was expected. On an average, about 1,000 tickets are sold through this medium. We have written letters to the Railway Board for waving off certain chargers and are waiting for their response.” Apart from 12.39 per cent service charge, a user has to pay up an additional Rs 10 on each recharge of the e-wallets.

Railway officials have requested Ministry of Finance to consider mobile ticketing as public services and exempt its users from transactional charge. A senior official said, “A couple of things which fall under public service are exempted from such tax that is levied by Ministry of Finance.” Apart from exempting it from the additional charges, introduction sale of platform tickets and seasonal passes will also help in increasing the sale of mobile ticketing.